Massage apparatus



Jah. s, 1924- R. s. THOMPSON ET AL MASSAGE APPARATUS Filed July 12, 1921 IN V EN TOR.

ATTORNEY. A

Patented Jan. 8, 1924.

UNITED ,STATES RALPH S.

PATENT OFFICE- I THOMPSON, OF NEW YORK,AND CARL F. DOSCHER, 0]? WHITE PLAINS, NEW

YORK, ASSIGNORS TO THE THOMPSON-BARLOW COIVLIANY, INC.

MASSAGE APPARATI-IS.

Application filed July 12, 1921. Serial No. 484,056.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it knownthat we, RALPH S. THOMPSON an-d CARL F. Dosonnn, citizens of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, and White Plains, in the county of Westchester and State of New York, respectively,.have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Massage Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to massage apparatus operating on the suction principleand is especially adapted for use in massaging various parts of the hum'an'body.

The primary object of the inventionv is to provide a device of this character eqiupped with pressure regulatingmeans whereby the device may be used as gently or as briskly as desired, and which is constructed to break up congested fatty condition and bring the normal flow of blood to the spot massaged thereby causing it to coursethrou'gh the tissues.

Another object is to provide a combined flesh manipulator and blood CirculatOrwith means for loosening fatty congestion to effect its quick and easy dissolution.

Another object isto provide a device of this character controllable by the manipulator to hold the flesh as firmly or as gently as may be desired and by a slight rotating'motion to giveconcentrated exercise.

Still another object is to provide a vacuum cup equipped with means for regulating the strength of the vacuum at will.

Another object is to so construct' a vacuum cup that the operator may release the vacuum without having to forcibly'remove the cup.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in certain novel features of construction as hereinafter shown and described and then specifically pointed out in the claims and the drawings illustrative of the preferred embodiment of the in vention.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a plan view of a massage apparatus or device in accordance w'iththis invention, and

positiong Figure 2 is a central vertical view thereof.

In the embodiment of the invention, as illustrated, it includes what maybe termed a body portion generally referred to bythe reference character 1, and in the form of a vacuum cup constructed of soft rubber; The body portion 1, consists of an outer portion 2, an inner portion 3 and an intergradually increases in thickness from the ine termediate portion 4 .to the outer terminus of said inner portion 3: The free terminus of the outer portion 2, is formed with a laterally extending annular flange 8, thereby providing an extended" seating edge or fiat'surface engaging surface 7 The flange 8 is flush with the free terminusnof the outer portion 2. r

The inner portion 3 terminates in an elongated s-hankor stem 9, formed with ,an-annular 'rib 10 for reinforcing purposes, and said-stem 9, is furthermore provided with a laterally projecting -annular"he-ad-'11, spaced from the rib 10, and the latter and the head 11 are of such'contour-as-to provide the stem 9 with aiperipheral annular groove 12," semi-cylindrical in section and which constitutes means whereby the shank can be conveniently gripped and-held in Extended from the head v11 is a tapering protuberance 6, which is formed with a flaring opening 13,the latter opens into a flared port 14 of less diameter throughout thanthe opening 13. -The flared port 1 1, is formed centrally of the head 11. The stem 9, is formed with a flaring channel 5, of greater diameter throughout thanthe port 14, and the latter at 'its smallerend communicates with the smaller end of the channel 5. The fiareof the-channelr5 extends in an opposite direction with respect to the flare of the port 14, and also with respect to the flare of the opening 13. The hannel 5, port 14 and opening 13 provide the shank or stem with a centrally disposed bore, restricted in diameter intermediate its ends through the medium of the size of the port 14 and the manner of setting up said port 14 with respect to the opening 13 and channel 5. The shank 9 and protuberance 6 form what may be termed a handle element and which is integral with the body portion 1, and also constructed of soft rubber providing for the expansion and contraction of said element when occasion requires.

The opening 13 forms what may be termed the mouth of the bore of the handle element.

The handle element is employed for operating the device and the bore therein enables the operator to regulate the strength of the vacuum.

As the intermediate portion 4 of the body portion 1, is of less thickness than the inner portion 3 or the outer portion 2, when the body portion 1 is compressed by the operator, the intermediate portion .4: will be forced inwardly with respect to the outer portion 2, as the outer terminus of the intermediate portionwill be caused to swing inwardly on the inner terminus of the outer portion 2, as the said intermediate portion 4 is shifted inwardly with respect to the outer portion 2, through the medium of the inner portion 3, providing what maybe termed a shoulder which will be brought 5 into contact with that part of the human body inclosed within the outer portion 2.

In the use of this massage apparatus or device, the body portion 1, which is intended primarily as a flesh reducer, is placed upon the fleshy part to be massaged and the handle member or element then pressed down which will produce a vacuum. and cause the outer portion 2 and intermediate portion 4 to take hold of the part to be massaged. Before releasing the body portion 1, the finger of the operator is placed over the opening 13, and a small rotary movement is imparted to the body when 1, or rather to the handle element. The body portion 1, grasps the flesh owing to the vacuum produced therein and the rotary movement imparted thereto is transmitted to the flesh grasped thereby, and breaks up the congested fatty condition of parts massaged and causes the normal flow of blood to be brought to the spot manipulated and the blood to flow through the fleshy tissues and quicky carry off the fatty congestion.

It is well known that fat accumulates in the human body because the blood circulation is not sufficiently active to carry it of]? and that-the formation of excess fat finally renders it impossible for the blood to course through it.

Science has proven that the creation of abundant circulation in the part affected with surplus fat will operate to carry away the surplus fatty tissue, and it is along this line that this invention is designed to operate and in addition to producing abundant circulation the device constitutin this invention operates to successfully soften and loosen the fleshy formation and to harmlessly disintegrate it whereby the blood will beenabled to circulate freely and to quickly carry off the fatty congestion.

It will thus be seen that the cup which constitutes this invention and which may be termed a reducing cup operates first to manipulate the flesh and increase the blood circulation around the fatty portion and secondly to loosen the fatty congestion to en= able it to be quickly and easily dissolved. The cup operates on the suction principle and holds the flesh as firmly or as gently as desired and by a slight rotary motion produces concentrated exercise in a manner which will quickly dissolve superfluous fat.

The body portion 1, has its outer face.

formed of what may be termed'of O-gee curvature and the inner face of the body portion 1, at the outer portion 2 flares outwardly and then extends inwardly onwhat may be termed a compound curve. The inner portion 3 is of less diameter than the intermediate portion 4. and the outer'portion 2 is of greaterdiameter than the intermediate portion l.

The head 11 which may be termed a pressure regulator enables the cup to be used either gently or briskly and the straight flat edge of the mouth of said cup provides for the firm gripping of the flesh by the cup.

From the above description it will be obvious that this cup may be used to massage any part of the human body wherever there is an undesired or excessive accumulation of surplus fat and that the use thereof will actually remove the superfluous fat at any point desired without employing any unnecessary or harmful methods.

It is of course understood that the operator is to place his finger over the opening I 18 leading from the port 14 for controlling the vacuum pressure and when desired to release the pressure he simply removes his finger.

Moreover the flange 8 in connection with the edge 7 of the cup mouth provides a flexible contact lip adapted to exclude air to insure a vacuum in the cup when said cup is applied.

The preferred embodiment of the inven- 1 tion is disclosed in the drawings and set forth in the specification, but i it will be understood that any modifications within'the scope of the claimed invention may be made in the construction without departing from. the principle of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

i What we claim is; a: l. A massage apparatus of formed throughout of resilientmaterial including a depressible outer portiOIl @116 an inner portion of substantial rigidity to remain upright when the outer portion of said body is depressed to extend into the inner portion, and a finger gripping handle integral with one end of said outer portion and formed of the same material through out as said body and provided with a bore having its inner end opening into said body and its outer end sealable by one of the fingers employed for depressing said outer portion into said inner portion.

2. A massage apparatus of the finger control type comprising a cup-shaped body formed throughout of resilient material and including a depressible outer portion of compound curvature and a lower portion of substantial rigidity to remain upright when the outer portion of said body is depressed to extend into said inner portion, and a finger gripping handle integral with one end of said outer portion and formed throughout of the same material as said body and provided at its outer end with an annular head for engagement by two of the fingers: of a hand for depressing said outer portion into said inner portion, and said finger gripping handle further formed with a bore having its inner end opening into said body and its outer end sealable by one of the fingers employed for depressing the outer portion into the inner portion of said body.

3. A massage apparatus of the finger control type comprising a cup-shaped body formed throughout of resilient material and including a depressible outer portion and an inner portion of substantial rigidity to remain upright when the outer portion of said body is depressed to extend into the lower portion of said body, and a finger gripping handle formed integral with the outer end of said outer portion and constructed throughout of the same material as said body and provided at its outer end with a head for engagement by two of the fingers of a hand for depressing said outer portion into said inner portion of said body, and said handle further provided with a bore having its inner end opening into said body and with a protuberance projecting from said head and formed with a flaring opening communicating with the outer end of said bore and with said opening sealable by one of the fingers employed for depressing said outer portion into the inner portion of said body.

4:. A massage apparatus of the finger control type comprising a cup-shaped body formed throughout of resilient material and th fi gei cdiii trol type comprising a ouprshap.ed ,gbodying opening, said handle further provided with a bore opening at its inner end into said body and at its outer end into said opening, and said head providing -means for engagement by two of the fingers of a hand for depressing said outer portion into said inner portion of said body and said flaring opening sealed by one of the fingers employed for depressing said outer portion.

5. A massage apparatus of the finger control type comprising a cup-shaped body formed throughout of resilient material and including a depressible outer portion and a lower portion of substantial rigidity to remain upright when the outer portion of said body is depressed to extend into said inner portion, and a finger gripping handle integral with the outer end of said outer portion and formed throughout of the same material as said body, said handle provided with an annular head having a protuberance extended therefrom and formed with a flaring opening, said handle further provided with a bore opening at its inner end i into said body and at its outer end into said opening, and said head providing means for engagement by two of the fingers of a hand for depressing said outer portion into said inner portion of said body and said flaring opening sealed by one of the fingers employed for depressing said outer portion, the inner diameter of said inner portion gradually increasing toward said outer por-- tion and the inner face of said inner portion being continuous throughout.

6. A massage apparatus of the finger con trol type comprising a cup-shaped body formed throughout of resilient material and including a 'depressible outer portion and a lower portion of substantial rigidity to remain upright when the outer portion of said body is depressed to extend into said inner portion, and a finger gripping handle integral with the outer end of said outer portion and formed throughout of the same material as said body, said handle provided with an annular head having a protuberance extended therefrom and formed with a flaring opening, said handle further provided with a bore opening at its inner end into said body and at its outer end into said opening, and said head providing means for engagement by two of the fingers of a hand for depressing said outer portion into said inner portion of said body and said flaring opening sealed by one of the fingers employed for depressing said outer portion, the inner diameter of said inner 5 portion gradually increasing toward said outer portion and the inner face of said inner portion being continuous throughout,

and said outer portion being of compound curvature and decreasing in diameter from said inner portion. a i 10 In testimony whereof, we affix our signa-;

tures hereto,

RALPH S. THOMPSON. CARL F. DOSCHER. 

